Britain's Edmund to debut in Davis Cup final

Ghent (Belgium), Nov 26 (IANS) Kyle Edmund will become the first player to make his Davis Cup debut in a final since 2003 after being given the nod by Britain captain Leon Smith to take to the court on the opening day against Belgium’s David Goffin here on Friday. Not since Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 12 years ago as a player experienced his first taste of Davis Cup in the final. World No.2 Andy Murray, on the other hand, will play the second singles against World No.108 Ruben Bemelmans on the clay court of Flanders Expo, announced the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in the draw ceremony here on Thursday. Bemelmans has been picked by Belgian captain Johan van Herck ahead of Steve Darcis, who will be rested for the doubles rubber on Saturday and likely a potential fifth and decisive rubber on Sunday. Scheduled for now, Goffin will play the first reverse singles against Murray while Bemelmans will likely play 20-year-old Edmund in the last rubber on Sunday.

Great Britain is bidding to win its 10th Davis Cup title, although this would be its first since Fred Perry helped to claim the trophy in 1936. Belgium, meanwhile, is playing in only their second final and their first since losing to Great Britain in 1904. Davis Cup is the World Cup of men’s tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in sport with 126 nations entering in 2015. The competition is 115 years old having been founded in 1900. The draw: David Goffin (BEL) v Kyle Edmund (GBR) Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) v Andy Murray (GBR) Steve Darcis/Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) v Andy Murray/Jamie Murray (GBR) David Goffin (BEL) v Andy Murray (GBR) Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) v Kyle Edmund (GBR).

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